Stackers and downriggers

[Boatnut]

I'm considering trying some "stackers" on my downriggers this year but have some questions.
When a fish hits the deepest line, what keeps it from coming up and tangling with the line stacked above it? Do you have to clear that line immediately if you have a fish on the bottom one?
Is it worth using them??? I'll be using them on a deep inland lake and not necessarily for walleyes.
Let's hear it from you downriggin' experts out there!
Mike(boatnut)

[SUPERTROLLER]

Mike, there is no reason to clear the stackers while fighting a fish. You will need to pop them free and reset them when you want to reset the bottom line on the release at your ball. When you are fighting fish, the stackers will be low enough and the fish should be far enough behind the boat that you don't have to worry about tangling the lines. Hope this helps. Fish On Dude!

[Fin Addict]

Stackers are a very nice way to get more vertical spread on your rig. To set, attacth the first line to the lower release, set the clicker, open the freespool, place rod in the farthest rod holder from you and drop at least 10'. Then attach your stacker release to the cable per instructions ( I prefer the Offshore stacker release), repaet the above placing the rod in the inside holder and drop both til the lower rig is at the desired depth. Engage both reels and reel up slack and you are good to go. The spead caused by the rod holders and your vertical spead will keep the lines from tangling. You may want to clear the second line w/ a very large king or steelie but for eyes it should not be necessary. The only hassle is if you get a relase on the lower line, you have to reset the whole thing. Hope this helps.

[ironman]

The key is to run your line off the ball longer than your stacker. If your stacker is longer than your bottom line you will get tangles more frequent. Also be cautious that your stacker doesn't catch the bow in the line from your bottom line. you'll have to experiment with different lure to see how each setup runs. Also watch making tight turns so you're stacker lure fall and get hungup in your bottom line. I generally keep 10ft between my stacker and the bottom line. It can be very beneficial to run a stacker. Keep atleast 10-15ft.of line difference between the two.

[Airwave(OH)]

Hey Mike don't forget to run Sliders on your stacked lines...LOL Have fun :)

[vetspet(ind)]

i think the most important thing when i use stackers is to make the bottom line longer than the stacked one...and the next most important thing is that some lures get into each other...hot-n-tots seem to dig down too far and get into the bottom line...if i use floating lures on the bottom line and take a turn too sharp, the floater may ascend and get into the other line if i have a spoon on the top line and it sinks if i get slack on a turn...generally i use a spoon on the bottom and something like a rapala on top which does not go too deep...steve

[Boatnut]

Brion,
Lemme master one thing at a time will ya! ;)
Did ya get my mail about a decent website that shows newest colors of scorpions?? I wasnt too impressed with Michigan's site as far as new stuff.
Mike(boatnut)

[Boatnut]

Fin,
I guess thats what I was referring too...a release on the bottom line and it coming up and tangling with the line above. seems there'd be a 50/50 chance of that happening.
Thanks for all the info, guys!!
Mike(boatnut)

[CarlBob]

I have been trying to figure out how to get those stackers to work for several years now. I fish Lake Michigan for coho and kings and want to run two rods off a downrigger. I ALWAYS get the lines tangled up and I cant tell if the bottom line is coming up and getting tangled or the other way around. I am at the point of giving up. But I will probably try it again this sping with the same #$@$# results. I would prefer to master the stackers cause I hate to run those dipseys.
How long a lead do you guys run on both the bottom one and the stacker? Maybe I am trying to get them out to far.
Thanks.

[Fin Addict]

I generally run 20' leads on Lake MI. Rarely over 30' and often 10' or less. I often run cow bells or other attractors off the ball and stack both lines. I can't remember the last time I tangled my stacked lines and I frequently run 3 lines off of each of 4 downriggers. That many lines in close proximity to one another requires short leads. The short leads have not had a negative affect on salmonoids but are generally not preferred for eyes. Run diving lures like Hot n tots on the bottom and a spoon or shallow runner above. If you do the reverse w/o enough space between the two, you will have problems. All spoons is the simplest approach as they track in a nice straight pattern. A good spread on the rods and shorter leads will result in few if any tangles.

[Starfish]

Most folks seem to prefer the long line on the ball with a short line on the stacker-- I do too sometimes-- but I often use the opposite technique, when I'm trying to get both lures to work the same depth. I'll often run a short lead-- 10-20'-- on the ball with a relatively shallow diving lure. I'll then run a long lead-- 60-100'-- with a deeper diving lure, stacked 6-15' above depending on how deep the diver goes. It rarely tangles, though admittedly this is usually for river fishing salmon. The only problem I commonly have is that sturgeon will often take the bottom lure and tangle, not with the upper lure, but with the downrigger cable. We almost always pull all the lines anyway when we hook big chinook in the river.

[Airwave(OH)]

Yes I got it Mike , It was my understanding that all the new stuff was on the site. I'll have to check it out.
You don't want to master one thing at a time. Jump in with both feet and you'll learn what not to do sooner...LOL :)

[Dunn]

The bottom line of the stacker will be cleared. It is rare that they tangle with the line above it.

If you are concerned just try pulling the fish to one side or the other of the boat after you pick up all the slack line on the fish.

Good luck,
------------------
Marshall J. Dunn
Bluewater Research, Inc. (OffShore Release)

[KevinA]

You might try to simplify everything and just run fixed sliders. This will allow you to run two or more baits off one downrigger rod & reel. Drop your main line down as far as you want & then attach a 5-6 foot line (with lure) to the main line by a heavy snap-swivel (like you use for downrigger balls) and a half-hitch rubberband or a offshore-type release. The rubber band/release will keep the lure fixed at one spot. If you get a strike on the slider the release lets go & slides down to the main line release, pops it & off you go. If you get a hit on the bottom just bring it in, clear the slider & carry on. The system makes for less rods to deal with while giving you plenty of options for baits & levels. It works!

[Airwave(OH)]

I run Sliders on all my lines. Mostly free sliders but will fix them if I know a feeding depth for sure. Ya might as well put them out ,it is one more bait in the water. Might be the one that gets the fish your looking for.

[Grey Beard]

Wild fish can always create tangles regardless of the leader lengths and spread on your stackers. I have minimized my problems by using OffShore OR-2 med. Tension Stackers with small Dipsys. I dial the Dipsy to 2.5 and run a 25' stretch and attach to the stacker at any position above the rigger wt., usually 8-10'. The 25' lead with 2.5 position places the bait at about the same level as the downrigger bait, giving me a wider spread and no tangles. If I want to cover more of the water column I attach the stacker 15-20' above the rigger. The Dipsy seems to act as an attractor and often out-produces the rigger rod.

For fixed sliders I use 5' of 40# Ande with a snap on one end and a snap swivel on the other with an OffShore OR-14 freely sliding between. The heavy line helps with the inevitable tangles. Place the snap on the main line and attach the pad at the desired depth. The pads are faster and easier to work with than rubber bands esp. when a bait is flying around because the fish is on the rigger bait.

Tight lines and full coolers, Grey Beard